Who was the first woman to serve as the Governor of the Indian State of Kerala?

Introduction / Context:
Women have played significant roles in the constitutional offices of India, including as Governors, Chief Ministers, and Presidents. Questions about the first woman to hold a particular constitutional post in a State are common in general knowledge and Indian polity sections. This question focuses on the State of Kerala and asks you to identify the first woman who served as its Governor.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The office in question is the Governor of Kerala.
• The options list four prominent women in Indian public life: Sheila Dikshit, Fathima Beevi, Sarojini Naidu, and Jyothi Venkitachalam.
• We assume the reference is to Kerala after the reorganisation of States.
• The aim is to pinpoint the first woman who occupied the gubernatorial post in that State.

Concept / Approach:
Fathima Beevi, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India and the first woman appointed to that court, later served as the Governor of Kerala. She holds the distinction of being the first woman Governor of Kerala. Sarojini Naidu is historically famous as the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh and as a national leader, but not of Kerala. Sheila Dikshit served as Chief Minister of Delhi and later as Governor of Kerala for a short tenure, yet she was not the first woman to hold the Kerala Governorship. Jyothi Venkitachalam was a political figure and minister but did not precede Fathima Beevi in this office.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Fathima Beevi broke ground as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India.Step 2: Remember that after her judicial career, she was appointed as the Governor of Kerala.Step 3: Note that although Sheila Dikshit also served as Governor of Kerala, her appointment came later and she was not the first woman in that role.Step 4: Recognise that Sarojini Naidu was Governor of Uttar Pradesh, not Kerala.Step 5: Compare the options and select Fathima Beevi as the first woman Governor of Kerala.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official lists of Governors for the State of Kerala show Fathima Beevi as an early woman appointee and specifically note her as the first woman to hold the post. Biographical sketches of her career highlight both milestones: first woman Supreme Court judge of India and later Governor of Kerala. Documents about Sheila Dikshit make it clear that her term as Governor of Kerala came in a much later period, confirming that she could not be the first woman Governor of that State.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Sheila Dikshit: She did serve as Governor of Kerala, but she was not the first woman to do so.
• Sarojini Naidu: She served as the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh, not Kerala.
• Jyothi Venkitachalam: She was a minister and public figure but did not become the first woman Governor of Kerala.

Common Pitfalls:
Examinees often mix up States when recalling the first woman Governors, especially between Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. Famous names like Sarojini Naidu and Sheila Dikshit can cause confusion. A useful memory tip is to associate Sarojini Naidu with Uttar Pradesh and Fathima Beevi with Kerala, both as pioneers at the State gubernatorial level. Linking Fathima Beevi's name with both the Supreme Court and Kerala's Raj Bhavan helps to fix this fact in your memory.

Final Answer:
The first woman to serve as the Governor of Kerala was Fathima Beevi.